Telegram-herald., 1887-12-11
TALK ABOUT ICELAND
WHAT An EDUCATED NATIVE SAYS
krrons0us opiaions ~s 10 shs citmsts-
Sixhts That Last Tor Forty D@ys-A sa-
psriox Sehool System-A Country
That Nessr As ~ War.

native OF Iceland. The expec tsnt express
ion which had arisen 10 the face OF DIR.
Lndwig Won Dolcke was soon dispelled
when the Intruder informed bin thai he
was a reporter for the TEl EoRAa-H HERALD.
Il am glad 20 know yea, he said. as he
cordially grasped The reporters hand aud
pleasant welcoming smile Oerspfead his
we'll founoed and jolly appearing oounte'
nance. Ia the vicinity of % years oi sse,
Dr. Won Dolcke is OF medium size. We'll
rounded figure, his hair and fail
beard inged with white, present
ing the appearance of vel pre-
served man -of-the word. lie speaks
the English language nuenuy, though with
a noticeable foreign accent. however. aud
his powers of conversation denote a refine
ment. education and fund Of general knowl-
sdge much above the ordinary. A fen
questions from the reporter lei the gentle
man into general conversation on the
topic of his naIlvs country.
II think the enlightened world has been
misled,n he said, in regard 10 the climate
and Temperature OF our country, aud this Is
principally owing. l think. 10 the name,
Iceland. The climate Is mild compared
with that of other countries in the same
latitude The Gulf stream which - always
warm, extends up 10 anu passes about
eighteen miles from the shore on
the south and west sides. Diyid-
ing, as il does, a short distance
before reaching the Island the warm vap0r
arising the retrom extends over the greater
part of the country, thus rendering the
climate much warmer than IL would other
wise be. Our Winters are long, and We
sometimes have snow storms as late as in
MAY. Then there are about forty days in
each year when it is almost entire night
During this period there are, what is
called by the English the Northern light
which CT st a suDdued light over the co1r-
try, enabling people to move about at ea,
and at times 1t IS bright enough 10 read by.
The language spoken almost entirely
by the natives is what is known as the
Old Morse and descends from the ancient
Scandinavian.
'The principal industry of the inhabi-
tants OF the Island is fishing and beside
of wooden goods, the raising OF sheep aud
horses. exporting wool, feathers, ducks,
wild fowls, furs, horses, etc.
"0i wild animals, we have reindeer in
profusion, wolves are plentiful and there
are large numbers of Polar bears in the
northern parts. We also have the fish otter
in large numbers and the skins of these are
usually shipped out Of the country.
In regard TO education aud school sys-
tenn, A luluk Il CHI Sdicll say lu1l
eduaii If not superior TO that of any other
country This is especially so in the schools
for the common class, in which the children
are taught 10 speak the different languages,
theology, etc, the benefits of which,
in most other CO untries, are only
derived from the higher grade of schools.
Our system has been adopted by the Swe-
dish nation, and from them it has been in
troduced into this country.
The principal articles of diet are fish
| and meat, and potatoes. turnips, beets. cell
ery, ETC., are grown in the country. A sort
| of green cabbage IL also grown IN abund-
ance, and Is very hardy. The white cab.
| bage grown here was never seen there. No
| delicate yege tables or fruits. such as toma-
| toes peaches, etc. were ever grown there
! until recently imported from other coun-
| tries.
buildings? Yes, we have some very
| handsome ones constructed of brick and
stone, but only the richer classes have
| these. Bricks are manufactured al home.
| and stone is quite plentiful and in
large boulders. The lava from the
volcanic mountains is also used
in the construction OF buildings. 1t is OF a
very fine quality and is exported TO other
| countries The houses of the fishermen
| and farmers, which are sunk several feet
| into the ground, are constructed with 3
| frame, the sides being covered with willow
| branches, on the bssketwork plan, and the
roofs being covered with straw and clay.
| ''Our religious propensities are of free
| and liberal nature Everyone does as he
| chooses and is at liberty TO have his own
| opinions. The churches are mostly on the
reformed basis. There are a few Greek
| Catholics on the island, but these are mostly
| officers OF the old Russian army
| I'VE don't go much on politics, as We
| have an independent form of government.
| Yes, there is general impression that Ice
| land belongs TO Denmark, but this il
wrong, as we are merely under the protec-
ton of the King of that country, and its
vessels often al our harDors. In 1871 and
| 1872 a national feast was held in celebration
| of the millennium, or thousandth year of the
country's independence, or the coming o.
| Harold the Blonde. Those descending :
| from his reign are known as the free born
| IcelanueTs.
"The character Of the inhabitants is.
| think, different from that OF any Other
nation, from the fact that in one thousand
years there has never been a war. The
country hes kept by itself and is noted fol
! its peaceIulness. The morals OF the coun-
try are also GOOD, and will stand aion e
An immoral act by young man or WON ar
! would be severely condemned, yes
and punished. The literature, espe
| Ciallg among the better classes
is of a very hign order and there are d NUN
| Der OF brilliant authors and poeis ",
/ have large university for the education o
! young men in all the sciences, politica
economy. philosophy. etc. 1t was establish
| en- in 1875 and has an average attendance
/ ol sixty students"
Dr. Ton D0lcks. who arrived in thi
! country November %. has decided 70 MAKE
| tnis city his future home. His OBJECT ir
| locating here ia to manufacture al IL
| iT0duce some 0f bis own inventions. aad r
| promote fhe sEssem Of esectropstbic treat
ment. Il was induced 10 come here saig
| the doctor BY the information that Crane
| Rapids vas an enterpTising and rapidly
| gf0wIng city and because I can purcbas.
ths wood which shall use iI
| nay baths, etc. st 8 moderate Ggure.
The Doctor speaks finsntlv FIVE oidereu
languages. 20 follows Morse. Swedish
Danish. Germsn and hngish. and hs Els.
has some know edge % the Russ.sn. frencl
aud spanish language lie has bees
| located nufi recently ~ C3penhsgea. Dan
ma *. s8d decides to Iacsts bers sffer hav
| iHe pros g. It'd in Nev YORK. pmlsds pha
san krsucise0. sac otber isa4lng C.ties.
House Bn rned.
The alarm q Ere from box y 81 rni5nigh
vas ceused ~ tas burniag of the story sd
half residence O. Peter De Wot. o. Con
| zrsss-ss- shout t8ree block ca SIDE of al.
| Cfv. TIE bcBse Wss b1rued 81 The eroar.
/ and most ~ The flrniture rith g. In
iosf on tie bouse is s3oat 800. The 0assss